Slug-casting machine.



T. W.'JOH NS.

SLUG CASTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-l6, 19H- 2 SHEETS-SHEET l- INVENTOR. 8Y A @nnwwdATTORNEY:

Patented Sept. 3, 1918.

T. W. JOHNS. SLUG CASTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 6. I917. I

1,277,596, Patented Sept. 3,1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2. U

Q3 00 a Q N N w [HIHHIIIIIMHHIH J mm W INVENTOR. 4% 77 By M W a A 7 4 Ka ATTORNEY:

s are nrcn THOMAS W. JOHN-S, OF BROOKLYN. NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR T0MERGENTHALER LINOTYPE COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

SLUG-CASTING MACHINE.

newness.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 3 1918.

Application filed August 16, 1917. Serial No. 186,486.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS W. J OI-INS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, haveinventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Slug-Casting Macl1ines,0f which the.following is a specifica tion, reference being had thereinto the accompanying drawing.

My invention relates to typographical machines such as linotype machinesof the gen eral organization represented in Letters Patent of the UnitedStates No. 436,532, to O. Mergenthaler, wherein molten metal is forcedfrom acasting pump into a slotted mold against a composed line ofmatrices to produce a printing slug or vlinotype, which is subsequentlyremoved from the mold by an ejector advancing from the rear and drivingthe slug before it into a receiving galley at the front of the machine.

In these machines, it is frequently nec essary to vary the length of themold slot in order to produce slugs of different lengths, and thisinvolves a corresponding change in the width of the ejector, which ofcourse must be narrow enough to enter the mold. In practice, itoccasionally happens that the attendant, through ignorance orcarelessness, fails to perform both of these two necessary operations,but insteadreduces the length of the mold slot without correspondinglyreducing the width of the ejector, which therefore is almost certain todamage or in ure the parts.

It is the aim of my present invention to obviate these objections and toprotect the parts against injury, even in the event of the failure ofthe attendant to make the required adjustments. To this end,specifically, I employ a locking device to hold themold disk normallyagainst rotation and thus to prevent the adjustment of the mold slot,and provide connections whereby the unlocking of the mold disksimultaneously effects the disconnection of the ejector from its operating devices and the locking of the casting pump,v means also beingemployed to hold the parts in this condition until the ejector ischanged and drawn forward by hand into the mold slot after the rotaryadjustment of the disk. If the ejector fails to enter the slot becauseof its excessive width or for any other reason, the parts remainunaffected,

but if it enters, then they are released and restored to their normalcondition upon the subsequent withdrawal of the ejector. In other words,although the machine itself is allowed to complete its usual cycle ofoperation, both the ejector and the pump are rendered inactive wheneveror before the mold apparatus is adjusted, and these parts cannot berestored to action until the ejector is adjusted and caused to enter thenew mold slot, thus making it necessary that the blade be of properwidth, and avoiding any injury to the parts if the ejector is largerthan the mold. These and other features will more fully appear in thedetailed description to follow.

In the accompanying drawing, I have shown "my invention merely inpreferred form and by way of example and as applied to a machine of theclass stated, but obviously it is susceptible of various alterations andmodifications which will still be comprised within its spirit. Generallyspeaking, I desire it to be understood that I do not limit myself to anyspecific form or embodiment, except in so far as such limitations arespecified in the claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improvements as applied to alinotype machine {and a Fig. 2 is a side elevation showing the parts indifferent positions.

The slug casting molds A, having slots of different lengths. are carriedby the disk B, which is rotatably mounted upon the supporting slide B soas to present the active mold first in a horizontal position for castingand subsequently to locate it in the vertical position shown in' Fig. 1,where it stands in front of the ejector C, attached to the slide G whichis arranged to be reciprocated forwardly and backwardly within the moldslide B first, to drive the ejector through the mold to remove the slugtherefrom and, then, subsequently to withdraw the ejector from the mold,when the parts come to rest. The movement of the ejector slide C iseffected by means of the pivoted upright lever C connected thereto bythe link C and which is rocked to and fro by rotary cams on the mainshaft of the machine. The periodic rotations of the mold wheel B arecontrolled by the driving pinion B operated through the usualconnections-from the main shaft.

The pinion B is arranged to be pulled forwardly by hand to break itsconnection with its driving shaft, and when thus dlsconnected, it isturned independently to setthe disk B with one or another of the moldsthereon in active position, after which the pinion is re-connected toits shaft, all as shown and described in the Randall Patent N 0.758,103. It is in this way that the mold apparatus is adjusted to effecta change of mold slot, although such adjustment mlght be effected in anyother manner, 6. 9., in the case of a single mold, by the employment ofinterchangeable filling pieces or liners.

In the present instance, the ejector C is of the form shown anddescribed in the Rogers Patent No. 967 ,97 6, comprising a series ofindependent blades or sections arranged edge to edge and any selectednumber of which may be connected to the slide C at will, such connectionbeing controlled by the vertically adjustable member O which is operatedin the usual way from the hand lever C The ejector is thus adapted to bechanged in width to correspond to any length of mold slot employed.There are other ways in which this change or adjustment of the ejectormay be effected if desired, as, for instance, by detaching the bladefrom the slide and substituting another of the required width, or byemploying a set of integral blades of the different required widthswhich can be adjusted laterally to connect any selected one thereof withthe ejector slide.

The parts so far described are all of well known construction, andexcept as hereinafter pointed out constitute in themselves no part of mypresent invention. As before stated, it is the aim of my invention toinsure the corresponding adjustments of the mold apparatus and theejector, and to avoid injury to the parts inthe event. that theattendant should fail to reduce the size of the ejector in changing froma larger to a smaller mold; and the manner in which these results areaccomplished will now be operating lever C As a result, by raising andlowering the link C it may be disengaged from or reengaged with theoperating lever C at will, thus breaking or making the operativeconnection of the ejector with its power-operated devices. The raisingand lowering of the link is effected by a vertical D engaging the loweredge of the link. To I operate the rod D, there is employed a long footleverD pivoted centrally, as at D to a fixed part of the framework, andhaving its rear end passing loosely between a pair of pins D on the rod,and presenting atits forward end a treadle portion D exposed at thefront of the machine. Under this arrangement, the attendant by pressingdown upon the foot lever may, through the above connections, effect theinstantaneous disconnection of the ejector (Fig. 2).

To insure this disconnection of the ejector before effecting a change ofmold slot, there is provided a locking pawl H which holds the mold diskB against rotation until the foot lever D is operated. This locking pawlis carried by an arm H projecting laterally from the foot lever, and aspring H con nected to the lever tends constantly to hold the pawl inengagement with the teeth of the mold disk. It is apparent, therefore,that no adjustment of the mold disk to effect a change of mold slot cantake place until the foot lever is operated, which then not onlyreleases the mold disk but conjointly therewith effects thedisconnection of the ejector from its power-operated devices. (Fig. 2).

lVhen the foot lever D is thus operated, means are provided to lock itinits operated position so as to maintain the disconnection of theejector until it is properly adjusted in width to correspond to the newlength of mold slot selected by the rotary adjustment of the mold disk.In the present instance, this feature is realized by attaching to thelower end of the vertical rod D a pivoted gravitating or spring actuatedpawl E, which when the rod is raised swings forwardly above a fixed lugor shelf E thus holding the rod in its raised position and consequentlymaintaining the ejector link disconnected from the operating lever C(Fig. 2). Also attached to the rod D is an actuating link F having anoperating hand lever F exposed at the front of the machine within reachof the operator. This actuating link F is pulled forwardly when the rodD is in its raised position, so as to'rock said rod forwardly about thepin D as a pivot, and tl'irough the medium of the ejector link C and theslide C to draw the ejector C forwardly from its normal position ofrest. If the ejector has been changed or is of proper width, it willenter the mold as the rod D is rocked forwardly, and this rocking of therod will trip the pawl E by swing ing'it rearwardly beyond the lug ll(see dotted lines of Fig. 2), thus allowing the rod to fall and theejector link C to drop and become engaged with the operating lever Cupon the subsequent withdrawal of the ejector from the mold (Fig. 1).If, on the other hand, the ejector has not been changed or is too largeto enter the mold, the ejector cannot be drawn forward and hence norocking movement of the rod D takes place, so that the pawl E remainsengaged with the lug E and maintains the ejector link disengaged fromthe operating lever C The effect of this arrangement is that when theejector is disconnected from its power-operated devices, the parts arelocked in this condition until the ejector is drawn forwardly, which canonly be done when it is of the proper width. In this way, it becomesnecessary for the operator to test out the size of the blade before theparts can be restored to action, although this restoration is effectedautomatically when the ejector is of proper width and is drawn forwardlyinto the mold. If desired, the ejector link 0 may be provided at itsrear end with a hook 0 to engage the pin a of the operating lever C whenthe link is moved forwardly by the rocking of the rod D, and thustolimit the forward movement of the disconnected ejector.

It has been mentioned above that the disconnection of the ejector iseffected without interfering with the operation of the machine itself,which is allowed to complete its usual cycle of operation while theejector remains inactive. Since the machine is thus allowed to operate,it is evident that the casting pump would also be actuated to force themolten metal into the mold in the usual manner, and in such event, theejector being out of action, the slug would remain in the mold and causeinjury to the parts. Means are therefore provided to lock the castingpump against action simultaneously with the unlocking of the mold diskand the disconnection of the ejector, so that if the machine isthereafter operated no" damage can result. Only the pump plunger K andits operating arm K are herein shown, as the construction and operationof the pump are well known in the art. There is associated with theactuating lever K as usual, a pivoted locking dog K one end of which isadapted to engage beneath a lug K" pro-i jecting laterally from thelever, and. the other end of which is engaged by the conical end of avertical rod K passing through a bracket plate K attached to thejustification lever J. The spring K attached to the properly, all aswell understood in the art. In the present instance, the dog K and rod Kare utilized to lock the pump against action when the ejector isdisconnected from its powenoperated devices. For this purpose, the rodK? is arranged in engagement at its lower end with a lug or shelf Kprojecting laterally from the foot lever D beyond its pivotal point. Asa result, when the foot lever is depressed to unlock the mold disk andto disconnect the ejector, it simultaneously raises the rod K*, whichthrows the dog K beneath the pump actuating lever K and locks it againstmovement (Fig. 2), the parts being held in this condition until theejector is drawn forward in the manner before described, due to theconnection of the foot lever with the rod D carrying the pawl E. Itfollows, therefore, that the mold slot cannot be changed until thecasting pum is first locked against action, and that the pump cannot beunlocked until the ejector is properly changed to accord with the newmold slot or drawn forwardly thereinto, which latter operation effectsthe unlocking of the pump automatically.

As during the normal operation of the machine it is necessary that themold disk B be free for rotation means are provided to effect thedisengagement of the locking pawl H therefrom during its automaticperiods of rotation. In the present instance, this is accomplished byextending downwardly from the arm H a hook-shaped member H to engagebeneath the usual justification lever J, it being pointed out thatduring the operation of the machine the justification lever is depressedat times preceding. the rotation of the disk, as is well understood. Theautomatic disengagement of the locking pawl H will, because of its rigidconnection with the foot lever D, rock the latter idly about its pivot,which is permitted by a sufficient amount of play between the connectedparts.

In order to clean the back of the mold and for other reasons, it issometimes desirable to disconnect the mold slide B from its operatingdevices and to draw it forwardly by hand. In performing this manualoperation, it is customaryto disconnect the ejector from its operatingdevices also, because ofthe fact that the ejector slide is carried bythe mold slide. This second operation is rendered unnecessary in thepresent arrangement by extending downwardly from the mold slide B an armL formed with a cam piece L which is arranged to engage a coiiperatingcam piece L located on the foot lever D iirthe rear of its pivot.Consequently, when the mold slide is drawn forwardly, the engagement ofthe two cam pieces rocks the foot lever upwardly at its rear end, andthrough the medium of the rod D raises the ejector link C out ofengagement with the operating lever in precisely the, same manner as ifthe foot lever were depressed by the attendant.

The operation of the several parts will have been understood from theforegoing description. It sullices to say here that in making a changeof mold slot, it is necessary for the operator to depress the foot leverD to unlock the mold disk, and this depression of the foot lever throughthe connections described effects the locking of the pump and thedisconnection of the ejector from its power-operated devices, the partsbeing maintained or locked in this condition by the pawl E which remainsactive until the ejector is drawn forwardly and caused to enter themold, when the parts are restored upon the withdrawal of the ejectorfrom the mold. If the ejector is not so manipulated either because ofits excessive width, or for any other reason, the pump remains lockedand the ejector disconnected, even though the machine is allowed tooperate.

As previously stated, I have shown my invention merely in preferred formand by way of example and as applied to a specific style of machine.However, many modifications and alterations therein, and in its mode ofapplication, will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the artwithout departure from its scope. It will also be observed that whilethe several features of my improvel'nents are all involved in accomplishing the objects aimed at, many of them are such as might be usedto advantage either individually or in other combinations. locking ofthe casting pump by the unlocking of the mold disk preparatory to itsadjustment, and that of preventing the unlocking of the pump until theejector is drawn forward into the mold, might be useful alone or apartfrom their association with the features involving the disconnection ofthe ejector by the unlocking of the disk and the automaticire-connection of the ejector when it is caused to enter the mold, orvice versa. Again, the feature of automatically disconnecting theejector from its power-operated devices when the mold slide is drawnforwardly by hand could be used alone or in other combinations as well,and the same is true of the locking device for the mold disk, etc. It istherefore to be understood that my invention is not to be limited to anyfeatures of construction or combinations of said features, except in sofar as such limitations are specified in the claims.

Having thus described my invention, its construction and mode ofoperation, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of theUnited States. is as follows:

1. In a slug casting machine, the com- Thus,-the feature of effectingthe.

bination of a mold apparatus adjustable to provide mold slots ofdifferent lengths, an ejector to remove the cast slugs and capable ofbeing rendered inactive at will, and means to prevent the adjustment ofthe mold apparatus until the ejector is rendered inactive.

2. In a slug casting machine, the combination of a mold apparatusadjustable to provide mold slots of different lengths, an ejector toremove the cast slugs, poweroperated devices connected to the ejectorand capable of disconnection therefrom at will, and means to prevent theadjustment of the mold apparatus until the ejector is dis connected fromits power-operated devices.

3. In a slug casting machine, the combination of a mold apparatusadjustable to provide mold slots of different lengths, an ejector toremove the cast slugs, locking means to prevent the adjustment of themold apparatus, and connections whereby the release of the moldapparatus renders the ejector inactive.

4. In a slug casting machine, the com bination of a mold apparatusadjustable tc provide mold slots of different lengths, an ejector toremove the cast slugs, poweroperated devices connected to the ejector,locking means to prevent the adjustment of the mold apparatus, andconnections whereby the release of the :mold apparatus effects thedisconnection of the ejector from its power-operated devices.

5. In a slug casting machine, the combination of a mold apparatusadjustable to provide mold slots of different lengths, an ejector toremove the cast slugs, poweroperated devices connected to the ejector,locking means to prevent the adjustment of the mold apparatus, means fordisconnecting the ejector from its power-operated devices, and a commonactuating device or foot lever connected to both of said means andadapted when operated to effect the release of the mold apparatus andthe disconneotion of the ejector.

6. In a slug casting machine, the combination of a mold apparatusadjustable to provide mold slots of different lengths, a castingapparatus capable of being rendered inactive at will, and means toprevent the adjustment of the mold apparatus until the casting apparatusis rendered inactive.

7. In a slug casting machine, the combination of a mold apparatusadjustable to provide mold slots of different lengths, a casting pumphaving locking means there for, locking means to prevent the adjustmentof the mold apparatus, and connections between the two said lockingmeans whereby the unlocking of the mold apparatus efi'ectsthe locking ofthe pump.

8. In a slug casting machine, the combination of a mold apparatusadjustable to provide mold slots of difierent lengths, a castingapparatus, an ejector, means whereby the casting apparatus and theejector may be rendered inactive at will, and means to prevent theadjustment of the mold apparatus until both the casting apparatus andthe ejector are rendered inactive.

9. In a slug casting machine, the combination of a mold apparatusadjustable to provide mold slots of different lengths, a castingapparatus, an ejector, locking means to prevent the adjustment of themold apparatus, and connections whereby the release of the moldapparatus renders both the castingapparatus and the ejector inactive.

10. In a slug casting machine, the combination with a mold apparatusadjustable to provide mold slots of different lengths, a casting pump,an ejector, and power-operated devices connected to the ejector, oflocking means to preventthe adjustment of the mold apparatus, lockingmeans to prevent the action of the pump, means for disconnecting theejector from its poweroperated devices, and a common actuating device orfoot lever connected to all of said means and adapted when operated toeffect the unlocking of the mold apparatus and conjointly therewith thelocking of the pump and the disconnection of the ejector.

11. In a slug casting machine, the combination of a mold apparatusadjustable to provide mold slots of different lengths, an ejectorchangeable to correspond and capable of being rendered inactive at will,means to prevent the adjustment of the mold apparatus until the ejectoris rendered inactive, and means to prevent the action of the ejectoruntil its proper change has been effected.

12. In a slug casting machine, the combination of a mold apparatusadjustable to provide mold slots of different lengths, an ejectorchangeable to correspond, poweroperated devices connected to the ejectorand capable of disconnection therefrom at will, means to prevent theadjustment of the mold apparatus until the ejector is disconnected fromits power-operated devices, and means to prevent the reconnection of theejector until its proper change has been effected.

13. In a slug casting machine, the combination of a mold apparatusadjustable to provide mold slots of difierent lengths, an ejectorchangeable to correspond, locking means to prevent the adjustment of themold apparatus, connections whereby the release 7 of the mold apparatusrenders the ejector inactive, and means to prevent the action or theejector until its proper change has been effected.

14:. In a slug casting machine, the combination of a mold apparatusadjustable to provide mold slots of different lengths, an ejectorchangeable to correspond, casting apparatus capable of being renderedinactive at will, means to prevent the adjustment of the mold apparatusuntil the casting apparatus in rendered inactive, and means to preventthe action of the casting apparatus until the. proper change of theejector has been effected.

15. In a slug casting machine, the combination of a mold apparatusadjustable to provide mold slots of different lengths, an ejectorchangeable to correspond, a casting pump having locking means therefor,locking means to prevent the adjustment of the mold apparatus,connections between the two locking means whereby the unlocking of themold apparatus efiects the locking of the pump, and means to prevent theunlocking of the pump until the proper change of the ejector has beenefiected.

16. In a slug casting machine, the bination of a mold comapparatusadjustable to provide mold slots of difl'erent lengths, an ejectorchangeable to correspond, casting apparatus, means whereby the castingapparatus and the ejector may be rendered inactive at will, means toprevent the adjustment of the mold apparatus until both the castingapparatus and the ejector are rendered inactive, and means to preventthe action of these parts until the proper change of the ejector hasbeen effected.

17. In a slug casting machine, the combination of a slotted mold, anejector to remove the slugs therefrom, means for rendering the ejectorinactive at will, and means to prevent the subsequent action of theejector until it is first caused to enter the mold. slot.

18. In a slug, casting machine, the combination of a slotted mold, anejector to re move the slugs therefrom, power-operated devices connectedto the ejector, means whereby the ejector may be disconnected from itspower-operated devices at will, and means to prevent the subsequentre-connection of the ejector until it is first caused to enter the moldslot.

19. In a slug casting machine, the combination of a slotted mold, anejector to remove the slugs therefrom, power-operated devices connectedto the ejector, means whereby the ejector may be disconnected from itspower-operated devices at will, and means to maintain the ejector sodisconnected, said means being arranged to be released by the movementof the disconnected ejector into the mold slot.

20. In a slug casting machine, the combi nation of a slotted mold, anejector to remove the slugs therefrom, casting apparatus, means forrendering the casting apparatus inactive, and means to prevent thesubsequent action of said casting apparatus until tile ejector is firstcaused to enter the mold s 0t.

21. In a slug casting machine, the combination with a slotted pump, anejector, and power-operated devices connected to the ejector, of meansfor locking the pump against action and for disconnecting the ejectorfrom its poweroperated devices, and means to maintain the parts in thiscondition, said means being ar ranged to be released by the movement ofthe disconnected ejector into the mold slot.

22. In a slug casting machine, the combination of a mold, an ejector toremove the slugs therefrom, power mechanism for the several operativeparts including the ejector, and means for disconnecting the ejectortherefrom while allowing the machine to complete its cycle of operation.

2;. I11 a slug casting machine, the combination of an ejector slide, apower-operated lever, a link connecting the slide and lever and arrangedto be shifted out of engagement with the latter, a movable rod con-.nected to the link to effect such shifting tliereof, an automaticpawlcarried by said rod to hold it in its moved position, and anactuating member connected to the lifting rod for drawing thedisconnected ejector forwardly, for the purpose described.

24 In a slug casting machine, the com bination of an ejector slide, apower-operated lever, a link comiecting the slide and lever and arrangedto be shifted out of engagement with the latter, a lifting rod connectedto the linkto effectjsuch shifting thereof, a pivoted foot lever foroperating the rod and exposed at thefront of the machine, an automaticpawl carried by the lifting rod to hold it in its raised position, and ahand-actuated member also connected with the lifting rod for drawing thedisconnected ejector forwardly for the purpose de scribed.

25. A structure as specified in either of claims 1 to 16, characterizedby the fact that the adjustable mold ap aratus therein re ferred toCOIIlPl'lSOS a plurality of differentsized molds carried by arotar Ydisk or wheel which may be set in different positions to bring anyselected one of the molds into action.-

26. In a slug casting machine, the com bination of a rotary mold disk orcarrier adapted to berotated periodically during the operation of themachine, a locking device normally engaged with the mold disk,

Copies of thin;

mold, a casting and automatic means for momentarily disengagingthelocking device from the mold disk during the periodic rotations of thelatter.

27. In a slug casting machine, the combination of a rotary mold disk orcarrier adjustab e when the machine is at rest to bring different moldsinto use, rotating mechanism for the mold, a locking device inde pendentof the rotating mechanism to prevent the adjustment of the mold disk,and manually operated means to disengage said locking device.

28. In a slug casting machine, the combination of a mold slideadaoted toforwardly by hand when disconnected from its actuating parts, an ejectorslide carried by the mold slide, power-operated devices connected to theejector slide, and means actuated by the forward manual movement of themold slide for disconnecting the ejector slide from its power-operateddevices.

:29. In a slug casting machine, the com bination of a mold slide adaptedto be drawn forwardly by hand when disconnected from its actuatingparts, an ejector slide carried by the moldslide, a power-operatedlever, a link connecting the ejector slide and lever and arranged'to beshifted out of engage ment with the latter, and connections whereby theforward movement of the mold slide effects such shifting of theconnecting link. j j i e 30. In a slug casting machine, the combinationof a mold slide adapted to be drawn forwardly by hand when disconneetedfrom its actuating parts, anejector slide carried by the mold slide, apoweroperated lever, a link connecting the ejector slide and lever andarranged to be shifted out of engagement with the latter, a verticallymovable rod connected to the ejector link to effect its disengagementfrom the lever, a pivoted foot lever for operating the movable rod andprovided back of its pivot with a cam piece, and anarm depending fromthe mold slide and provided with a cam piece to cooperate with that onthe foot lever when the mold is drawn forward by hand and effect thedisconnection of the ejector slide from its power-operated lever.

In testimony whereof, I have'aflixed my signature.

THOMAS W. JOHNS.

patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing theCommissioner of Patents Washington, D. Q.

be drawn

